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'''Partisan politics in the United States''' has several unique characteristics. Many of America's Founding Fathers hated the thought of political parties. They were sure quarreling factions would be more interested in contending with each other than in working for the common good. They wanted individual citizens to vote for individual candidates, without the interference of organized groups — but this was not to be.

'''Partisan politics in the United States''' has several unique characteristics. Many of America's [[Founding Fathers]][[Link title]] hated the thought of [[political parties]]. They were sure quarreling factions would be more interested in contending with each other than in working for the common good. They wanted individual citizens to vote for individual candidates, without the interference of organized groups — but this was not to be.

==Origins==

==Origins==

By the 1790s, different views of the new country's proper course had already developed, and those who held these opposing views tried to win support for their cause by banding together. The followers of Alexander Hamilton, the Hamiltonian faction, took up the name "Federalist"; they favored a strong central government that would support the interests of commerce and industry. The followers of [[Thomas Jefferson]], the Jeffersonians and then the "Anti-Federalists," took up the name "Republican Party" (referred to as the "Democratic-Republicans" by historians to distinguish it from the modern Republican party); they preferred a decentralized agrarian republic in which the federal government had limited power. By 1828, the Federalists had disappeared as an organization, replaced by the Whigs, brought to life in opposition to the election that year of President Andrew Jackson. Jackson's presidency split the Republican party: Jacksonians became the "Democratic-Republicans" and those following the leadership of [[John Quincy Adams]] became the "National Republicans." The Democratic-Republicans quickly shortened their name to the [[Democratic Party]], and the system two-party dominance, still in existence today, was born. The United States thus has exceptionally old political parties.

By the 1790s, different views of the new country's proper course had already developed, and those who held these opposing views tried to win support for their cause by banding together. The followers of [[Alexander Hamilton]], the Hamiltonian faction, took up the name "[[Federalist]]"; they favored a strong central government that would support the interests of commerce and industry. The followers of [[Thomas Jefferson]], the Jeffersonians and then the "Anti-Federalists," took up the name "Republican Party" (referred to as the "[[Democratic-Republicans]]" by historians to distinguish it from the modern Republican party); they preferred a decentralized agrarian republic in which the federal government had limited power. By 1828, the Federalists had disappeared as an organization, replaced by the [[Whigs]], brought to life in opposition to the election that year of President [[Andrew Jackson]]. Jackson's presidency split the Republican party: Jacksonians became the "Democratic-Republicans" and those following the leadership of [[John Quincy Adams]] became the "National Republicans." The Democratic-Republicans quickly shortened their name to the [[Democratic Party]], and the system two-party dominance, still in existence today, was born. The United States thus has exceptionally old political parties.

In the 1850s, the issue of slavery took center stage, with disagreement in particular over the question of whether or not slavery should be permitted in the country's new territories in the West. The Whig Party straddled the issue and sank to its death; it was replaced in 1854 by the [[Republican Party]], whose primary policy was that slavery be excluded from all the territories and any new states. Just six years later, this new party captured the presidency when [[Abraham Lincoln]] won the election of 1860. By then, parties were well established as the country's dominant political organizations, and party allegiance had become an important part of most people's consciousness. Party loyalty was passed from fathers to sons, and party activities — including spectacular campaign events, complete with uniformed marching groups and torchlight parades — were a part of the social life of many communities.

In the 1850s, the issue of slavery took center stage, with disagreement in particular over the question of whether or not slavery should be permitted in the country's new territories in the West. The Whig Party straddled the issue and sank to its death; it was replaced in 1854 by the [[Republican Party]], whose primary policy was that slavery be excluded from all the territories and any new states. Just six years later, this new party captured the presidency when [[Abraham Lincoln]] won the election of 1860. By then, parties were well established as the country's dominant political organizations, and party allegiance had become an important part of most people's consciousness. Party loyalty was passed from fathers to sons, and party activities — including spectacular campaign events, complete with uniformed marching groups and torchlight parades — were a part of the social life of many communities.